We are making our first trip to Zimbabwe in August, going to the BVC. It looks like the weather is warming up a bit over there. I was wondering to expect from the bugs, Tsetse Flies???

I've done 6 trips split between Namibia and Botswana. For those trips the bugs weren't a problem. Even the Caprivi in October with 100F+ temps, we didn't have issues with mosquitos or ticks. We treated our clothes with permethrin and used Repel lotion with 40% deet.

I wanted to see if anyone had other suggestions for the bugs at the BVC??

Thanks!!!

TBD

I've been there twice this time of the year and never had any bug issues. I do take malarone however.

There are no tsetse flies in the BVC.

What camp are you staying in...I might have some pics to send you?

Airborne bugs will not be a problem. However, I would suggest you spray your clothes, particularly pants, boots and gaiters with Permethrin. Two of us went without on our last trip to BVC and both contracted nasty cases of tick fever. Cheap insurance and probably helps with other bugs as well.

Agree about the ticks.

All good advice above. I would also take Cipro, a first line anti-biotic against African tick fever (also first line against anthrax and lower GI bugs) as well as taking a UV flashlight to look for scorpions in my hut/ tent. Zim has some pretty nasty scorpions, and I personally would rather find them before they find me. You can get a good UV flashlight on Amazon.com for about $20.

Everyone here is spot on. No flies, but definitely ticks...spray your clothes, and use Uncle Bens 100% deet on shoes, ankles and legs. Malaria, yes and I always bring Cipro on every trip to Africa. The BVC is awesome!!

True about the BVC being awesome!Last year Shaun Buffee, Danielle (Shaun Buffee's videographer) and I were chasing vervet monkeys and while under a tree inspecting a shot, we had fleas from the damn monkeys that had been up in the tree, crawl all over our legs. So yes, spray up and make sure that your Dr. prescribes Cipro. Never leave home for Africa without it! Admiral: I never had a problem in the BVC with scorpions-but the flashlight is not a bad idea either!

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
True about the BVC being awesome!Last year Shaun Buffee, Danielle (Shaun Buffee's videographer) and I were chasing vervet monkeys and while under a tree inspecting a shot, we had fleas from the damn monkeys that had been up in the tree, crawl all over our legs. So yes, spray up and make sure that your Dr. prescribes Cipro. Never leave home for Africa without it! Admiral: I never had a problem in the BVC with scorpions-but the flashlight is not a bad idea either!

I never saw any scorpions either - that is until I used my UV flashlight for the first time. The camp cook told me to shine it on the wooden fence near the cooking shed. The fence lit up with big and little glowing purple splotches everywhere! I did not sleep well that night, and I now always check under my bed and the walls of my shower every night!

Great idea! Now here in Vegas. . . . . scorpions are home to our desert environment!

Use the Permethrin and bug spray for ticks. Abundant in the grassy meadows (waterbuck habitat). Small like a grain of pepper. Flying bugs should not be a problem but I took Malarone just in case. Where are you staying and who is your PH. Hunted there in early June of this year. Great time.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
There are no tsetse flies in the BVC.

What camp are you staying in...I might have some pics to send you?

Hi Lane,

We will at Ngali.

quote:

Originally posted by LB:
Use the Permethrin and bug spray for ticks. Abundant in the grassy meadows (waterbuck habitat). Small like a grain of pepper. Flying bugs should not be a problem but I took Malarone just in case. Where are you staying and who is your PH. Hunted there in early June of this year. Great time.

LB,

We will be hunting with Shaun Buffee and staying at Ngali.

This may be overkill on the tick issue. but I wasn't specific in my previous post. My shirt and shorts were sprayed, but I neglected my boots. socks and gaiters. The ticks got up under my gaiters and it looked like I got caught in a snare around my ankles. Spray the inside of your gaiters and socks. The good thing about tick fever is its not usually fatal. The bad part when you have it is its not usually fatal.:-)

You'll love Ngali. If you like to see lions and elephant. keep your camera handy at all times!

Good luck!

Great camp and great PH. I've hunted with Shaun from that camp. Fenced to keep the lions and eles out in the evenings.

quote:

Originally posted by Texas Blue Devil:

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
There are no tsetse flies in the BVC.

What camp are you staying in...I might have some pics to send you?

Hi Lane,

We will at Ngali.

Beautiful camp. I will try to post some pics of it later today.

Dyers camp...not Ngali...had it filed wrong.

Hey Lane: There appears that there may be some confusion about BVC camps as your pics are not of Ngali camp. Those pics are of Dyers Camp.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
Hey Lane: There appears that there may be some confusion about BVC camps as your pics are not of Ngali camp. Those pics are of Dyers Camp.

Yep...I have the IMG codes from photobucket copied and pasted in files. Seems I have my files mislabeled!

Now I will have to go and sort them out!

I just pasted them in a hurry and did not even look.

Sorry...if I get time to sort it out...will put up Ngali.

I stayed there last year. The camp is very comfortable but nothing special, cement and thatch roof.



There isn't a view from the fire pit. Don't let that bother you though. The BVC is like the Garden of Eden. You will see and hear lions everyday. The plains game is beyond words. As far as the bugs, I was there in July and didn't notice any, you will be so focused on the wildlife. You will have a GREAT time. Good luck.

I meant to ask if you had looked into going with the fellow who is doing the lion research? My report is "Family vacation in Buby", we took it last year. We went with Paul, who was doing the research and it was a great experience. He went back to England and I don't know what is happening now but I understand somebody else came in to continue the research. It would definitely be worth checking into it. Go to my report and you can see the things we did with the lions.

I stayed there a few years ago. Nice place....had a few mice in the room...but they were trapped good. Amazing chef and food..buff and. Leopard were amazing and I do not think I have ever seen more plains game, giraffe and rhino any where else. The BVC rocks!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Bama15:
I meant to ask if you had looked into going with the fellow who is doing the lion research? My report is "Family vacation in Buby", we took it last year. We went with Paul, who was doing the research and it was a great experience. He went back to England and I don't know what is happening now but I understand somebody else came in to continue the research. It would definitely be worth checking into it. Go to my report and you can see the things we did with the lions.

And learn about the plight of the rhino